Iff card
{{Short description|Bus service smart card in Cardiff, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox electronic payment
| image = 150px
| name = Iff Card
| location = Cardiff
Vale of Glamorgan
| launched = October 2010
| service_1 = Cardiff Bus
| sales_location_1 = Bus services
| sales_location_2 = Customer Service centre
| currency = GBP
| maximum_credit = £50
| technology_1 = Contactless smart card
| homepage = [http://www.cardiffbus.com/english/smartcard.shtml Iff Card]
|}}
Iff card is a contactless smart card introduced in Cardiff in 2010. It allows customers to travel on Cardiff Bus services after having pre-paid.[http://www.cardiffbus.com/smartcard.shtml Cardiff Bus | Iff] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007204320/http://www.cardiffbus.com/smartcard.shtml |date=7 October 2010 }}
The name "Iff card" is a play on the word "Cardiff".[https://www.theguardian.com/cardiff/2010/oct/06/cardiff-bus-iff-card-smartcard-cardiff-oyster-launch Guardian Cardiff | Cardiff gets its own Oyster card]
Launch
Having been an aspiration of Cardiff Bus for many years beforehand, the card was launched in October 2010 during a publicity event outside Cardiff Central Library. The first 30,000 cards were issued free of charge and pre-loaded with £3 of credit, after which the cards were charged at £5. The cards are now issued free.
The company spent £300,000 on developing the card whose ITSO technology can be shared with other transport providers and public bodies in the future.[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/10/07/cardiff-bus-users-want-the-iff-card-91466-27415072/ WalesOnline | Cardiff bus users want the Iff card]
More than 25,000 applications for the card were received within the first few weeks of its launch.[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2010/11/08/cardiff-bus-new-iff-card-proves-a-hit-91466-27616900/ WalesOnline | Cardiff Bus’ new Iff card proves a hit]
Use
An amount of money is electronically loaded onto the card, either upon boarding a bus or at the Cardiff Bus customer service centre. A passenger then chooses a ticket type. The card can also be used as a season ticket. The card should be topped up when the balance is low, but the card allows the customer to acquire a negative balance up to £3, the first operator in the UK to do so.
Those who have registered for an Iff card will be able to be sent service updates via text or e-mail during spells of bad weather.[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/10/06/cardiff-bus-launches-iff-smart-card-scheme-91466-27410420 WalesOnline|Cardiff Bus launches Iff smart card scheme]
Restrictions
The card can be topped-up in units of £5, £10 and £20 up to maximum amount of £50. The card may be used by persons aged between 6 and 60. The Iff card cannot be used to pay a partial amount. The card would be cancelled if not used for a continuous period of one year[http://www.cardiffbus.com/terms_conditions.htm Cardiff Bus | Iff: Terms and Conditions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010044719/http://www.cardiffbus.com/terms_conditions.htm |date=10 October 2010 }}
Future
The Managing Director of Cardiff Bus hopes the online topping up service would be available by 2011. Executive Member for Cardiff Council hopes the card would become integrated with rail companies so it could be used across all transport systems. Deputy First Minister for Wales, Ieuan Wyn Jones hopes to see the smartcard technology rolled out throughout Wales by 2014.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140125065550/http://www.cardiffbus.com/english/pdfs/iff_howtouseit.pdf Cardiff Bus site – how to use the Iff card (Archive copy)]
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11483422 BBC News: Cardiff Bus smartcards are unveiled]
{{Transport in Cardiff}}
Category:Contactless smart cards
Category:Bus transport in Cardiff